LUSH Vancouver Ghost-Free Journey, Day 5

Photograph by Jo-Anne McArthur

As we go about our busy lives, it’s sometimes hard to make the time to really see the world around us, including the Ghosts In Our Machine. This week, each of you took that time to explore a piece of the world that can be hidden from our view and consciousness. Perhaps this experience has introduced you to a new level of awareness about yourself and the Ghosts. Or, maybe it served as in introduction to being vegan. Either way, we hope it prepared you to continue this learning process beyond the 5-Day Ghost-Free Journey. Thank you all for your openness, your deep reflection and sharing with this wonderful community.

Today, we hope to use the time to review and answer any questions you may have that weren’t addressed this past week as well as discuss ways in which you can continue to learn about or advocate for The Ghosts! We would also love to hear from those of you who are participating in the Chicken Vigil today with Liberation BC.

Please feel free to bring up anything else you feel necessary to help you prepare for your continued journey!

For the Ghosts,

Coaches Rosemary and Donna

The opinions we express as GFJ Coaches are ours personally. We are not professional health practitioners. Neither are we treating a specific health care issue. That means we are not offering advice on health-care problems. If you are experiencing a health-care problem, it is important to seek the advice of a health professional. However we are experienced, practicing vegans and we look forward to coaching you on your journey.

18 Comments

JennieMay 17, 2013 at 12:45 pm

Its been an incredible week and seems to have touched people in many different ways. To me this journey has reaffirmed my commitment to living Ghost Free and has showed me the how supportive and powerful “community” is. It has been wonderful seeing each person interpret the journey in your their way; everyone has a new awareness and will find what that means for them. Thank you Donna & Rosemary for coaching us, Your support is invaluable!

Coach RosemaryMay 17, 2013 at 4:21 pm

It’s been an absolute pleasure, Jennie! Thank YOU for all you’ve done to make this happen. I’m so glad this solidified your commitment…it does that for me each time as well. For the Ghosts!

Jennie – I echo Rosemary’s sentiments. You have been a dynamo throughout this experience. Not only have you participated as a coach – encouraging, supporting, sharing information – but you and Tricia have organized the most amazing activities.
Thank you for everything that you do to bring more kindness into this world.
For the Ghosts xoxo

PearlMay 17, 2013 at 12:47 pm

What a crazy week to be vegan! This week has made me realize how quickly I eat in a hurry, between work and other events and rarely pause to be careful and concious of what I am doing. I had to take many tylenols, advil and antibiotics this week which I couldn’t be sure weren’t tested on animals which led me to wonder why our painkillers and prescription medicines don’t have to have a label that says whether they are or are not tested on animals somewhere down the line. Is there such a thing as cruelty free painkillers?

Coach RosemaryMay 17, 2013 at 4:15 pm

Pearl,
I’m sorry to hear you’ve had such a rough week! I was wondering if you had the chance to try the pierogi last night at GRAZE? If not, hopefully, you’ll feel better soon and plan to try some thing at this new restaurant. I’m not really familiar with Canadian laws/policies, but in the US all medicines need to go through FDA approval, and therefor are tested on animals. There are some alternatives that are not tested for various symptoms and illnesses, but it’s slow to be more acceptable form of treatment.
Here are a few links for more exploration. A bit more advanced in the UK:http://www.vegansociety.com/healthcare/GPs/animal-free-medications.aspx

I hope thatyou are feeling better now Pearl. The initial experiences of being ghost-free (not knowing what is vegan, not feeling prepared with foods in the house, etc.) evolve pretty rapidly. You will find easy- to- prepare or already prepared foods that you can grab on the go.You can build your repertoire over time. That’ why this is a journey!

I hope that you will update us about you journey on The Ghosts FB page. We are there to support – as are many other members who have been following the Ghosts for the pastfew years.

This week has been a pleasure.
For the Ghosts xoxo

Tricia StevensMay 17, 2013 at 1:03 pm

Happy Friday Everyone
It was so nice to greet all of your smiling faces last night the graze. I really wanted to take the time and thank each and every one of you for embracing the journey. I think we can all agree that trying to make changes in our already busy daily lives can be difficult. The good things about that is that we tend to be creatures of habit and the more often we try the easier it is for those changes to become part of our daily routines. The end of the workday today will mark the start of a long weekend for us. These are often times when we get together with friends and family, perhaps pack our up our cars and head out of town or just enjoy relaxing at home. Tradition is a word that I would use to describe these times and that can make vegan/veggie choices tough especially when it comes to food. To all my fellow British Columbians I am attaching a link to the HappyCow site to help you locate vegan/veggie restaurants and health food stores in the province. So no matter where you travel and what you do this weekend take time to reflect on the amazing week that you have all had!

This is a very helpful site, Tricia; thanks for posting it. I am also traveling this weekend, and I am all set to go with food during the 6hr car ride. I love to take my own stash so I’m not stressed if I can’t find a suitable place. Fruit, nuts, hummus, crackers, carrots, and Super Greens…to add to drinks if I can’t find veggies.

Thanks for all you’ve done to make this a great week. Your support and willingness to talk with people behind the scenes, and to coordinate the events was invaluable. xo

Thank you for posting the link. There’s no doubt that being on the road can create some diffculties. I love what you wrote “So no matter where you travel and what you do this weekend take time to reflect on the amazing week that you have all had!”
You and Jennie have created an experience of a life time for the participants. It is so obvious from their compassion and joy that LUSH creates an environment of positivity.
Rosemary and I are truly appreciative of all that you and Jennie have created.

For the Ghosts xoxo

CzarinaMay 17, 2013 at 2:40 pm

Thank you for giving me a new perspective. At first I was worried that I would not be able to be vegan but was surprised that it was an easy transition. I have two vegan coworkers who have been great resources for me throughout this process. I will continue this journey longterm and will take the steps to make it happen. I want to acknowledge you for your committment that all living creatures live life with dignity and respect. Thanks Lush for everything.

Coach RosemaryMay 17, 2013 at 4:23 pm

Czarina, I’m so glad you participated and found that it was an easy transition for you. It’s so wonderful that so many LUSH staff are supportive to one another! Let us know if you have any other questions or issues to address before we end this GFJ. Best of luck to you! For the Ghosts!

Thank you for your reflections, Czarina! Hearing about the support that you have all shown to one another has been a lovely experience for us as coaches. We hope that you will continue to follow on the Ghosts FB page – there is such an amazing community there. We are all continuing on the journey. How great that there are more and more fellow travelers.

It has been an amazing week!! It was a great reminder of my journey and was such a privilege to be involved with this process. I hope that everyone learned a few things and had an incredible time!

Britt ArntsenMay 18, 2013 at 12:12 am

Last nights dinner was an opulent feast that lasted three hours! Everything was delicious and I was truly touched and appreciative of Lush’s generosity in providing that lovely evening for everyone. The Ghost free journey was pretty easy for me since it was so short term. It also made me realize that although I am not a vegan I am already an aware and cautious eater. I had a great week!

DianaMay 18, 2013 at 1:04 am

Is it already friday? as everyone mention before, LUSH has been an incredible support, thanks to my friends that made this journey a fun one, thanks Jennie for making this happen, thanks everyone for inspiring me, thanks TGIOM for all your resources, after this week I will cook more often because what I eat shouldnt be someone elses responsibility, it has opened my perspective and I will definitely read the ingredients and try new things.
I already started the easiest part: Making my own granolas, fresh juices, teas and preparing pasta with veggies, tomorrow I will go to the suppermarket to start level 2 ” the long weekend”

AimeeMay 20, 2013 at 12:57 pm

Had some difficulty on Friday but glad logging in today works! Thanks to everyone for a very mindful week, it was one I tried new things in, swapped a few alternatives that are now keepers in my routine, and realized a few key things about myself. Jennie, Tricia–another project turned home run for the company, thank you so much for your work on this. Rosemary and Donna, your diligence and support was truly inspiring, and to my fellow LUSH peeps on this journey, too–thanks to you all, too! I appreciated the chance to learn and share with you all.
*High Fives from California*

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PRODUCTION PARTNERS

ABOUT

With the exception of our companion animals and a few wild and stray species within our urban environments, we experience animals daily as the food, clothing, animal tested goods and entertainment we make of them.
This moral dilemma is often hidden from our view.

A film by Liz Marshall
An interactive story by The Goggles
Featuring Jo-Anne McArthur
Produced by Nina Beveridge
& Liz Marshall
Broadcaster: documentary
With “Give Up The Ghost”
by RADIOHEAD
Running Time: 92:00 & 60:00 mins
Release: 2013